Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to stop Russian imports to Ireland given that Russian associated ships and cargo carrying products made in Russia including agri-food products such as animal feed are still landing on Irish shores; the length of time that it will take to change sourcing of products to other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33244/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The 5th package of EU sanctions that came into effect on 9 April 2022 and the trade provisions as set out in Council Regulation (EU) 2022/576, amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, include a ban on Russian-flagged vessels accessing EU ports from 16 April 2022. The EU sanction prohibiting Russian-flagged vessels accessing EU ports has an explicit derogation to allow for the import of agricultural and food products.

My Department made four recommendations to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment – as the relevant Competent Authority - for authorisation of derogations under Article 3ea(5) of the Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (as amended) to allow Russian flagged vessels dock in Irish ports. These derogations for imports of animal feed met specific criteria, were in respect of contracted purchases prior to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and have since been landed in Irish ports.   

My Department regularly engages with feed industry representatives.  Feed import companies have been actively engaged in sourcing alternative feed materials from existing and new sources, and regular commercial activities in this regard are ongoing.

It is not anticipated that there will be a requirement to further rely upon the derogation set out in the EU Regulation, as it applies to the use of Russian-flagged vessels to import feed into Ireland.